Criminal Investigation Bureau arrests 12 for LINE ghost accounts used in fraud, over NT$80 million in losses

The Criminal Investigation Bureau's Central Anti-Crime Center announced today that in October 2024, police received intelligence indicating that multiple victims were lured by social media advertisements to join fake LINE investment groups and were defrauded. Following a report by the Central Anti-Crime First Team to the Taiwan Taichung District Prosecutors Office, a special task force was formed with the Taichung City Police Department's First and Third Precincts, the Criminal Investigation Division, and the Chiayi County Police Bureau's Shuishang Precinct. From March to April 2025, seven individuals, including money mules, were initially arrested. During the investigation, the special task force discovered an illegal group exploiting telecom operators' number change services to frequently change phone numbers and create a large number of fake LINE accounts, which were then sold to fraud syndicates. After thorough evidence collection, the police launched three waves of investigative actions between April and July 2025, arresting 12 individuals, including the main suspect, Mr. Zhan, who was the LINE account system and phone number provider, and other members, in Taichung, Taipei, and New Taipei City. Evidence seized included mobile phones, laptops, phone cards, and a batch of phone number application forms. Investigators found that Mr. Zhan instructed relatives and friends to apply for mobile phone numbers and, with accomplices, used telecom operators' number change services to frequently change numbers for registering LINE accounts. These accounts were then sold to fraud syndicates for NT$200 to NT$300 each. According to police statistics, from March 2024 to April 2025, the group obtained 8,226 phone numbers and bound 2,642 fake LINE accounts. Investigations revealed that 52 LINE accounts were involved in fraud cases, affecting 74 victims with property losses exceeding NT$80 million. In addition to seizing relevant evidence, the police have notified LINE Corporation to suspend these fake accounts. After police questioning, Mr. Zhan and the other 11 individuals were transferred to the Taichung District Prosecutors Office on suspicion of fraud, and the prosecutor has since indicted them according to law. (Edited by Li Shu-hua) 1150408